MSP Kate sees climate change impact on Nepal trip

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Survivors of Nepal’s devastating earthquakes and recent flooding have met with Lochaber MSP Kate Forbes, who is currently in the Himalayan country, as she endeavours to find out more about the impact of global climate change.

Ms Forbes, who sits on Holyrood’s Environment Committee, is also seeing how money raised in Scotland has helped people to rebuild their lives and homes.

She is going to the Teraj, the south of the country, to visit a project in Nepalgunj, which is working to assist people in the aftermath of flash flood, having received support from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund.

This will also include meeting with farmers who have started cultivation again, and people who have rebuilt their shelters.

The visit has been organised by Christian humanitarian charity Tearfund, which is are celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

‘I’m spending a few days in Nepal to meet with people who were affected by the earthquake of 2015 and the more recent flooding. These are incredible folk who have looked death in the face and are now rebuilding their lives,’ Ms Forbes told us before jetting out this week.

‘I have no doubt that these meetings will give me a greater sense of perspective and hopefully it will be an encouragement to those I meet as well to know that there are people across the world who care about their welfare.

‘I will be regularly posting photos on social media for anybody who’d like to track my visit.’

Lynne Paterson, Tearfund Scotland’s director, said the charity was delighted the MSP was visiting Nepal as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, meeting Tearfund partners and local communities.

She told us: ‘We hope that through meeting with people first-hand, Kate will get a fresh insight into how Tearfund, with the support of the Scottish Government, is bringing hope to communities who need it most.’

Located between India and China, Nepal is dependent on Indian supply routes for most of its trade including essential commodities such as oil products and medicines.

It ranks 145 on the Human Development Index, meaning it is one of the least developed countries in the world and in general the infrastructure and facilities are poor, probably with the exception of areas frequented by tourists.

Lochaber MSP Kate Forbes is in Nepal this week hearing first hand from survivors of recent earthquakes and flooding.
Photograph: I D Campbell